52 DIVERSEability Magazine www.diverseabilitymagazine.com

BUSINESS 2 BUSINESS

W

ith 2021 (thankfully!) in the rearview mirror, it's the perfect time to re-eval- uate and re-prioritize. Consider it a gift to yourself; take this opportunity to pursue strat- egies that can even out your personal and professional lives so you have the time and energy to follow your passions. Most of us have had our mental health shaken in ways we never imagined over the past two years, me included. Juggling my WBE and DOBE certified business, Wet Cement - which was severely impacted by COVID - with two teenage sons, a spouse, a home, aging parents, friends in crisis and even my dog Snowball has been too much at times. So thats why I do my best - and encourage you - to put into practice these five ways to achieve a healthy equilibrium in 2022 that delivers more joy, purpose and that feel good fuel we all need to live our best lives.

Aiming for Work/Life Equilibrium

By Jennifer Willey

1

Don't pursue balance; Focus instead on equilibrium.

When you pursue an evenly weighted balance, 99.9 percent of the time that unrealistic ideal will leave you feeling like a failure. Regardless of our best efforts, sometimes work will dominate and sometimes our personal lives will. Thats why we like the concept of striving for equilibrium - Merriam Webster defines equilibrium as a state of adjustment between opposing or divergent influences or elements, as well as a state in which opposing forces or actions are balanced so that one is not stronger or greater than the other. If you aim instead for a more complementary yin/yang, give-and- take relationship between your personal and professional life, you are better positioned to realize your goals and maintain a positive mental outlook.

2

Start with Your WHY.

Author Simon Sinek encourages us to find our why as we seek to inspire our- selves and others. In that spirit, ask yourself what matters most? What makes you the hap- piest? And as Atomic Habits' author James Clear points out, our behaviors make up our identity. Once you are clear on who you want to be, make sure you spend your time doing the things that support that vision. Use your purpose to evaluate every choice you make and challenge you face. There will always be things we HAVE to do that we may not WANT to do, but if you find yourself burning all your time against things that dont ultimately power your purpose, then its time to shift priorities and get your goals back in view.

3

Get clarity on your top priorities - and make sure YOU are on the list!

Tackle your to-do list by starting with whats most important, then rank everything else as mid-level tasks, and lower level will get to it when I can items. Self-care should be high on the list - block out time for a mas- sage, luxurious bath, good book or walk/run through the park. Those rewarding moments, however small, help you relax and recharge so you can get back to doing what you do best. Research shows that a poor work-life balance can have a dramatic impact on mental health, so prioritizing yourself helps ensure that you can practice Positive Intelligence, even when that dynamic yin/yang starts swirling in dou- ble time. And start practicing how to say no in a way that feels genuine and authentic to you - for example, instead of flat-out turning down someones request, it may feel more nat- ural and acceptable for you to say, Thank you for considering me for that project/board/task force - I'm flattered. Unfortunately, right now, my plate is full, but Ill let you know if I have the bandwidth for that in the future.

4

Maximize Productivity.

Multi-task whenever you can - at the salon, on the road, during meal prep. Take advantage of software designed to make you fire on all cylinders: Acuity, Todoist, Rescuetime, Brain.fm, Evernote, etc. Lean on other busy friends and exchange services - babysitting, meal prep, carpools, professional skills - chances are you arent the only one